The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-07
UNDER GROUND WORKERS
Annual Convention of the National Fed
Grated Association of Miners.
Conservative Spirit of the Men Who Control
The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Efforts to
Merge 1t with Miners K. of L. Assembly.

Merge 1t with Miners K of L. Assembly.
The forty delegates, whose numbers TO be
increased by arrivals from Pennsylvania and
West Virginia to-day. composing yesterday the
convention of the Federated Association OF
Miners and Mine-laborers, are a substantial
body of men. Very few of them are under
thirty years Of age, and many of them have
passed their prime, but they look as if they were
yet good for many years of work. They appear
like men who own their homes which. by their
presence. is suggestive of neat and loving cot
tages, well-kept surroundings. with want Of
simple ornaments in flowers and trees. The
federated miners claim to be the more conserva-
tive of their class. who discountenance strikes
aud believe that an injury to operators is in
jury to them. In their proceedings nothing IS
heard of fierce denunciation of capital, that
they being robbed Of the fruits of their toll.
What they do is done after careful and inteli-
gent deliberation. Like everybody else, they
want their labor to yield the most it can. but it
would be herculean task to induce such men
to run the hazard OF a strike. That word is
very rarely mentioned. but it is not to be under
stood that they would avoid if the differences
between them and the operators should assume
an extremely aggravated form. To prevent
such thing is one of the purposes of the feder-
alton. Its convention does not meet yearly
to rehearse long list Of grievances. but dis
cuss and act upon questions that may benefit
miners and operators alike. There is another
organization of miners that works under the
knights of Labor system. 1t is part of that
order. and conss Quently whatever it accom-
plishes is through secret action. The fedora 4
tions convention is open to any one, and its
proceedings are freely given the public. for
it looks more to the mutual interests of miners
and operators On this account there has been
a little friction between the X. of L. miners and
the federation, although many of the latter
members of the order, but not of the miners
organization under it, Such as John Mo-
Bride, Christopher Evans and George Harrison
of Ohio. and Daniel Mclaughlin, of Illinois, are
leading spirits in the more liberal association.
while W. H. Bailey. of Ohio. member of thu
K. of L. national executive board, is tia
controlling spirit of the secret organization. He
wants the miners of the United
States brought under the wing
to estros the
of their organization by taking any such step.
That however, is not a live issue, and the fed
GRAFTON stands alone on its platform of consorva-
tism. 1t is claimed that its influence has in
creased yearly since the organization &C.
complished here, two years ago. In the inter
trolls affairs. and it's meetings are held several
times during the twelve months. often with the
operators, either in this city or in Chicago.
The convention meets this year in Meridian
Hall. It's time yesterday was used altogether
in preparing for the business of today and to-
morrow. Mr.. Mcbride the president opened
the proceedings with q short address. in review
ing the past work of the federation and what it
would have to do in the future. He congraiu.
lated the m LENDERS upon the realization of thor
expectations in maintaining satisfactory rvla-
tionship with the operators He was followed
in short speech by Mr.. Mclaughlin. who has
the appearance of old farmer whom the
world has given, if net wealth, at least a compe-
tence for years and years of toll Like the
president Chris Evans and George Harrison. he
talks instructor who has been taught by
experience what theories and grievances are.
To them mining means simply that they have
the labor and the operators the capital there-
fore it is best for both TO consider matters with
sound sense.
After the speeches the secretary of the exec
utive board, Mr.. Evans, read his report of sthe
ment, and referred TO the fact that the purposes
of the federation had been accomplished with
out serious differences with the employers. 1t
was successful organization, to which
strength was added each year A matter of
Importance that had been considered was the
proposition to consolidate the federation and
District Assembly 81. K. of L., the official title
of the other organization of miners. It came
from the latter. to which the federation exec
ference. The time then fixed by D. A. 81
for conference at Cincinnati early
in the year, and to this the
that followed the part of D. A 81 led to
Withdrawing this date. The d. A. executive
board met in Cincinnati and again proposed
conference on June ~ out TO THIS the IeQ6ra-
TONS board would not consent. as two months
had elapsed from the date fixed for the first
fersnce and one month had gone by since tho
advance of 5 cents secured by the federation
had gone into effect. The executive board of the
latter adopted resolution refusing TO consider
any further propositions to that end. The
port stated that the executive boards meeting
with the operators in June satisfactory in
relation to the cents advance, which is to
tnue until November when another advance oe
cents is to go into effect and last until the May
following provided the places working under
schedule rates are brought up to the standard
still working under the schedule.
but the board is satisfied that
the operators will bring them up to the schedule
before November, when they can get the advan-
tage of the additional cent raise. The fed
GRAFTON is part of the American Federation of
Labor, an organization. the report stated, that
has now 500. 600 members. 81, 900 of whom have
come in since June.
Committees on resolutions, order of business,
ways and means and auditing were appointed.
That on resolutions consists of David McLaueh-
lin, who is Its chairman, George Harrison.
James Donavin James Short and Robert Bailey.
The chairmen of the other committees arc Rob-
art Fisher on organization and order of business,
John Young on and means, and ID. \.
Thomas auditing books
The convention, whose members then present
were mostly from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio,
until . o'clock this morning.
4 Denunciation of Base Ball.
S prin gfield Republican
We believe the professional baseball fever is
a miserable debasemens of youth. The city of
Boston has gone crazy over the playing of lot